DOLE to displaced Boracay workers: Avail cash assistance

THE Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) urged the displaced employees of Boracay Island to avail the cash assistance program provided by the National Government amounting to P520 million.

DOLE-Western Visayas director Raul Francia said there were about 20,000 formal sector workers who were displaced when Boracay closed down on May this year to make way for the rehabilitation upon the order of President Rodrigo Duterte.

Half of the displaced employees have already availed of the cash assistance but there are those employees who have not applied for the said cash assistance.

Francia said the said employees will be paid 50 percent of the prevailing minimum wage in the region.

This will cover from the time Boracay Island shut down until October this year.

All they have to do is to go to the nearest DOLE office in their respective areas and present their certificate of employment issued by their company and their identification card.

"If a worker comes from Bacolod City or Negros Occidental, they can just go to their Dole office to inquire and submit their application. Those who can avail will be issued a cash card from

Land Bank of the Philippines and the release is done monthly,” Francia said.

The informal working sector like the transient or ambulant vendors, masseurs and others who have no formal employment were also given their opportunity to work for a month under the emergency employment.

They were also paid with the prevailing minimum wage by the government.